Birmingham City have returned to the Elite Performance and Innovation Centre (EPIC) for the start of pre-season training. A large number of Blues players checked in on Wednesday for the start of pre-season. After some testing in the gym with sports science chief Dhani Pattinson-Hughes, the players were put through their paces on the grass before performing some drills with the balls. Things will step up a notch next week before Blues jet out to Portugal for a week-long training camp on July 7. It is over in the Algarve where Blues will play their first friendly against Sevilla on Saturday, July 12. Here are some things we spotted from Blues鈥 first training session of the summer鈥 Not everyone is back Eagle-eyed supporters have noticed that Willum Willumsson isn鈥檛 back in the building alongside his teammates. The attacking midfielder was involved in the June internationals with Iceland against Scotland and Northern Ireland. Internationals are given an extended break and Blues will give Jay Stansfield time to recover after England under-21s play the final of the European Championships against Germany on Saturday evening. A blast from the past Manny Longelo was among the Blues players to report back. Given the fact that he was deemed surplus-to-requirements last year, it is a surprise to see him in Blues training gear again. But, then again, he is under contract. The same can be said for Tyler Roberts who reported back to base after a loan spell at Northampton which saw him score once in 27 appearances. Dion Sanderson has also returned to EPIC for pre-season as he awaits clarity on his future. Longelo, Roberts and Sanderson aren鈥檛 likely to feature in Chris Davies鈥 plans for next season, but things can change. The topsy-turvy summer of Siriki Dembele last year is evidence of that. He was out, then in, then out again with Davies clearly unimpressed by his 45-minute showing against Reading on the opening day of the League One season. Youngsters get a look-in Davies has a huge squad, hence why Blues have scheduled seven pre-season friendlies including two double-headers in successive Saturdays in July, so it might be difficult for youngsters to get a look-in this summer. Those who watched Blues against Paderborn in Davies鈥 first friendly last year will remember a line-up predominantly made up of academy starlets. It won鈥檛 be like that this time around. Two youngsters who have been given a chance to impress Davies at the beginning of pre-season are Zaid Betteka and Briar Bateman. Winger Betteka made his senior debut in January and recently penned his first professional contract. Striker Bateman, meanwhile, was involved in pre-season last year.